' Sir Adam introduced the ancient Greeks and
Romans. JOHNSON. 'Sir, the mass of both of them were barbarians. The
mass of every people must be barbarous where there is no printing, and
consequently knowledge is not generally diffused. Knowledge is diffused
among our people by the news-papers.' Sir Adam mentioned the orators,
poets, and artists of Greece. JOHNSON. 'Sir, I am talking of the mass
of the people. We see even what the boasted Athenians were. The little
effect which Demosthenes's orations had upon them, shews that they were
barbarians.'
On Sunday, April 5, after attending divine service at St. Paul's church,
I found him alone.
He said, he went more frequently to church when there were prayers
only, than when there was also a sermon, as the people required more
an example for the one than the other; it being much easier for them to
hear a sermon, than to fix their minds on prayer.
On Monday, April 6, I dined with him at Sir Alexander Macdonald's, where
was a young officer in the regimentals of the Scots Royal, who talked
with a vivacity, fluency, and precision so uncommon, that he attracted
particular attention.
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